Dir En Grey Bio

Dir En Grey (stylized as DIR EN GREY and previously as Dir en grey) is a Japanese metal band formed in 1997 and currently signed to Firewall Div., a sub-division of Free-Will. As of 2011, they have recorded eight full-length records. While the group's lineup has remained consistent since its inception, numerous stylistic changes have made the genre of their music difficult to determine (though it is generally considered to be a form of rock music). Originally a visual kei band, the band has opted for less dramatic attire in recent years.

Dir En Grey has toured through Asia, Europe, South America, and North America; Billboard commenting on the group's international fanbase, that the band "has transcended the language barrier in the United States through its music" and "gained its audience without singing in English"

Dir En Grey was preceded by the independent band La:Sadie's which included four of Dir En Grey's later members before it disbanded. After parting ways with La:Sadie's bassist Kisaki, Kyo, Kaoru, Die and Shinya along with newly recruited bassist Toshiya regrouped as a new band on February 2, 1997 and released a first EP, Missa, a few months later. According to guitarist Kaoru, the name "Dir En Grey" was chosen because it "sounded right," and is composed of words from several languages, so that people would not be able to attach a specific meaning to it other than the band's name itself. More likely, however, was that the name was taken from "Dir en Gray", a song from Lareine's first demo tape.